On 9 May we unveiled Phyllida Barlow’s British Pavilion exhibition at the Venice Biennale, commissioned by the British Council. Coinciding with her ambitious sculptural installation, Barlow presents her ARTIST ROOMS at Turner Contemporary in Margate, South East England. The exhibition includes a sculpture by Barlow from the British Council Collection, entitled slidingupturnedhouse; 2015.
Barlow’s exhibition at Turner Contemporary is part of their summer season, entitled Every Day is a New Day and also featuring work by Kenyan born, London-based artist Michael Armitage, JMW Turner and a young artists’ prize. Every Day is a New Day is a celebration of the capacity of arts to pioneer change, challenge perceptions and embolden society.
The house is a recurrent form in Barlow’s work, appearing as small and large sculptures as well as drawings, almost always upturned:
“Much of my work deals with the forms and structures that surround us, chairs, platforms, balconies, houses. Functional things, things with a purpose, which once rendered as sculptures become useless and sometimes absurd.
I am interested in action within sculpture - I am interested in things falling, breaking, spilling, being upended… untitled: slidingupturnedhouse; 2015 belongs to an ongoing and evolving series of smaller works where the support is integral to the piece. I like the precarious feel of this piece; the sense of balance is somehow energising, making the work appear less static. It has an awkwardness which I like.” Phyllida Barlow
Every Day is a New Day is on view from 26 May until 24 September 2017 at Turner Contemporary.
